‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Trailer: Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg Sing the Legendary Actor’s Praises

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Keanu Reeves narrates Steven Okazaki's new documentary.

Michael Nordine

Sep 22, 2016 1:57 pm

@slowbeard

Not for nothing is Toshiro Mifune one of the most renowned actors of world cinema. Known mostly for his many collaborations with Akira Kurosawa — including such classics as “Rashomon,” “Seven Samurai” and the “Yojimbo” cycle — as well as Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy,” the Japanese thespian appeared in nearly 170 films before his death in 1997. Steven Okazaki directed the new documentary “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” which just released its first trailer.

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Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (who offers that “Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal”) and Steven Spielberg, the trailer touches on Kurosawa and Mifune’s joint influence on American cinema as well as the actor’s two main vices: alcohol and cars.

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Okazaki has been nominated for four Oscars, winning one for his short documentary “Days of Waiting” in 1991. “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” which recently screened at both the Venice and Telluride film festivals, will arrive in theaters courtesy of Strand Releasing this December. 1/2 Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

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